Assistant Bishops

The Rt Revd Jan McFarlane

Originally from Stoke, Bishop Jan was one of the first women ordained in Lichfield Cathedral in 1994 and served her curacy in Stafford before moving to Ely and then Norwich dioceses. In the latter she was simultaneously Bishop's Chaplain and Director of Communications before becoming archdeacon. 

She became Suffragan Bishop of Repton in Derby Diocese in 2016 (and Acting Bishop of Derby for a year prior to the installation of Rt Revd Libby Lane in 2019).

She is the first honorary bishop in the diocese to be licensed by Zoom after moving to be a Residentiary Canon of Lichfield Cathedral during lockdown in April 2020.

The Rt Revd Alistair Magowan

Prior to retiring to the Shrewsbury area, Bishop Alistair was both Bishop and Archdeacon of Ludlow in the southern half of Shropshire and well known to many in the area from his co-leadership with the former Bishop of Shrewsbury, Mark Rylands, in hosting the annual Shropshire Churches Conference.

Bishop Alistair is also the Bishop's Officer for Retired Clergy.

The Rt Revd Rob Munro

Bishop of Ebbsfleet

Bishop Rob continues the ministry established by the now retired Bishop of Maidstone, the Rt Revd Rod Thomas, in providing extended episcopal oversight to parishes which, on the grounds of complementarian evangelical theology, are unable to receive the priestly or episcopal ministry of women.

The Rt Revd Jonathan Clark

Bishop Jonathan is another occasional visitor as an Honorary Assistant Bishop, mostly providing support to Bishop Michael - together they were colleagues as area bishops in Southwark Diocese. Since retiring, he has also served as Bishop to the Falkland Islands which comprises the most southerly Anglican cathedral in the world (in Stanley, Falkland Islands), the former Church of Norway church on South Georgia and the area of the British Antarctic Territory.

The Rt Revd Anne Hollinghurst

Bishop Anne became principal of Queens Theological College in 2024, a training establishment that works closely with Lichfield Diocese in preparing students to become Readers and clergy. She was previously Bishop of Aston in Birmingham Diocese and is continuing the episcopal dimension of her ministry on a voluntary basis as time allows with her new role. Among other areas, she brings with her significant experience of, and interest in, interfaith work. She is also, by permission,  a member of the Diocesan House of Bishops.